Wire-weaving machine.



No. 7l3,369'. Patented Nov. II, [902. W. J. WRIGHT.

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 18, 1902.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Tu: "cams vzrzhs co. PNDYO-LITHQ, WASHNGYON, u. c.

N0. 7|3,369. Patented Nov. II, I902.

W. J. WRIGHT.

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE.

A )Xication filed Jan. 1 1

3 Sheets Sheet [N0 Model.)

N0. 7l3,369. Patented Nov. ll, I902;

W. J. WRIGHT.

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE.

(Applicatiqn filed Jan. 18, 1902.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. WRIGHT, OF PITTSBURG,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN S. SOULLY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

WIRE-WEAVING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 713,369, datedNovember 11, 1902. Application filed January 18,1902. Serial No. 90,290,(No model.)

T (0% whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWire-Veaving Machines, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming partof this specification, in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of myimproved sectional-roll wire-weaving machine. Fig. 2 is a sectional planview illustrating the main shaft, the cam-shaft, and theclutch-operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssectional view ofthe machine at its middle portion. Fig. 4 is a detail plan viewillustrating the relative arrangement of the spindles, coils, andguides. Fig. 5 is a cross-sec- 2o tional view on the line V V of Fig. 3,illustrating the arrangement of the spindles and the interveningcoiling-guides. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the upper portionof the machine, showing the feeding-rolls mounted in theirhousings, thepressure-plates, and the manner of locating them. Fig. 7 is a similarview at right angles to Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view, on anenlarged scale, illustrating the manner of mounting the disks 0 upontheir operating-shaft.

My invention consists of an improved machine for weaving wire intofabric or netting composed of interfitting spiral coils, whereby thefull width of the netting desired may be 5 made at one time of anydesired number of wires simultaneously and continuously and in oneoperation.

In the practice of my invention I employ a plurality of spindles 2,having the usual spi- 0 ral grooves 3 3, which spindles are mounted insuitable housings or frame at at such a distance apart as will admit ofthe location between the spindles of separate coiling-guides 5, whichfor approximately the full length of the spindle are straight. Theseguides have on one side a groove 6 of sufficient size to admit of thewires, but partly closed, so as to not allow the wires to escapeoutwardly, and at or beyond the delivery end of the spindles each ofthese guides is formed into a spiral 7 of the same pitch and relativeposition as the spiral groove 3 of the spindles, the groove 6 of theguides being maintained on the inner side, as shown.

By reason of the close arrangement of the pairs of spirals formed on thespindles 2 to the next adjacent pair similarly formed it will be seenthat the spiral guide 7 may be located as to the alternate oppositespiral loops of such pairs without interference with the forwardprogress of the coils, whereby when the independent spiral coils 8 arefinally delivered from the ends of the guide 7 they will travel forwardin the same relation to the coils 9 10 from spindles 2 and willinterengage with such coils, as by reason of the close proximity of eachindependent pair 9 1O sufficient clearance is allowed for freeengagement and interaction, and it will be seen that such assemblage andinteraction of the coils will be continued throughout the operation.

The forward feed of the wire is accomplished by means of a solid lowerfeed-roll 11, mounted in suitable housings 12, and an upper set ofnarrow disks 13, loosely mounted upon a shaft 14:, so as to provide forlateral play and in driving engagement therewith by means of a key 15,as clearly shown in Fig. 8. The width of these disks corresponds to theSo distance between the wires, the purpose being to provide a singledisk for each wire, the disks being either smooth or grooved, wherebyeach individual wire is independently engaged by its particular disk andheld in contact with the lower feed-roll 11. For the purpose ofsupplying pressure upon the disks 13 corresponding pressure-plates 16are suitably mounted in sliding position between longitudinal bars 17 ofthe housings, each of 0 such plates resting upon each of the disks, andupon each of these plates 16 rests and bears downwardly the heel 18 of alever 19, the outer end 20 of which constitutes a counterweight, wherebyconsiderable leverage and 5 downward pressure is exerted upon the plate,and consequently upon the disk, thus holding it in contact with thelower roll 11. It will be observed that each alternate lever 19 and itscounterweight extends outwardly on ICG the opposite side of thehousings, thus providing clearance for the widened counterweightprojection 20. It willbe understood that a series of such disks, plates,and counterweighted levers extend from one end of the machine to theother, as indicated in Fig. 6, for the full length of the lower roll,thus providing a continuous series of independently-actuatedpressure-disks mounted upon a common shaft, by which all of the disksare rotated at the same rate of speed. The shaft of the lower roll andof the upper series of disks are geared together by toothed gearing 21,so as to operate in the manner described, motion being transmitted tothe lower roll 11 through a toothed wheel 22 in engagement with asimilar wheel 23, mounted upon the main shaft 24: and adapted to beintermittently thrown into gear with such shaft by means of interfittingclutch members 25 26. The clutch member 25 is automatically operated bylever 27 in engagement with it and operated by cam 28 on shaft 29. Theshaft 29 is rotated at slow speed through pinion 30 on its outer end inmesh with the drivingpinion 31, mounted upon the outer end of a spindle32, which is adjustably set in a segmental slot 33, so as to be settoward or from the main shaft 2i, so as to permit of the insertion ofgears of different size to vary the relative speed of the main shaft andfeedrolls and shaft 29, by which the shearing mechanism is operated,whereby the machine may be set to cut off different lengths, as desired.Power is imparted to the driving-pinion 31 through toothed wheel 34,mounted upon spindle 32 and preferably secured to pinion 31, the pinion34. being in mesh with the driving-pinion 35 on the opposite end of themain shaft 24. Such main shaft is driven by belt or other connectionsthrough pulleys 36 or other suitable means from any desired source ofpower. Upon shaft 29, carrying cam 28, are mounted cams 37 on the insideof the end bearings of the shaft, which cams for three-quarters of theirperiphery are of uniform diameter, the other portion being formed intothe cam projection 38, which projection in the rotation of the camdepresses the end 39 of lever 40, pivoted at 41 to the frame andprovided with a pivotally-connected pitman 42, attached to and for thepurpose of. operating the knife beam 43, mounted in vertical slidewaysat each end of the machine. The lever is provided with a counterweightw, by which the depressing action of the cam is reversed and theshearbeam raised.

The construction of the cam and lever and connections therefrom to theknife is the same at each end of the machine to insure uniform action.The shear-beam is provided with a knife 44, which slides upon the outerface of a stationary shear 45 through openings 46, of which the wovennetting passes outwardly from the weaving-spindles.

The clutch 25 is held in engagement with the clutch member 26, so as totransmit rotatory movement to therolls to feed the wires duringthree-fourths of the revolution of the shaft 29 by reason of therelative arrangement of the cams 28 and 37. The clutch is thrown out ofgear during the downward travel of the knife, so that the feeding-rolls,both solid and sectional, remain stationary for one-fourth of therevolution of the shaft 29 until the shearing action is completed, theshearing-knife being raised simultaneously with the renewed clutchengagement produced by cam 28. As thus constructed the individual wiresare fed inwardly between the upper disk and the lower roll to thespindles, and the operation is continuous and automatic, the rollsfeeding forward the desired length of netting, which is sheared off atsuitable intervals, as I have described, without furtherattention fromthe operator than from time to time to renew the wires to the spools(not shown) as they become emptied.

For the purpose of lubricating the working parts a pan or vessel 47 islocated below the lower roll 11 upon suitable supports containextendsand by which it is lubricated, a wiper 49 preventing excess oil fromcovering the roll. The oil will be carried up to and will lubricate thedisks and their shaft, as well as the pressure-plates and the bearingends of the levers, thus insuring free action, while at the same timelubricating the wires before they are introduced to the spindles andcoiling-guides.

By reason of the sectional construction of the upper feeding-roll itwill be seen that each wire is engaged by its separate disk, so that thefeed mechanism is rendered operative and certain independent of anyvariations that may existin the gage of the wire or in the diameter ofone orboth of the feedrolls. This is a desirable and valuable feature ofmy invention, inasmuch as it overcomes the necessity of accuracy ineitherthe wire or feed rolls, which is an element of great uncertaintywherever a series of wires, as in the present case, are fed forwardsimultaneously by rolls upon a common shaft.

If desired, the disks may be made of suflicient width to engage two ormore wires within practical limits, and the width of the disks and theirnumber will be regulated by the work in view. It will also be understoodthat the composite roller may be used upon any suitable substitute forthe lower roll as a table, although the best results are secured whenused as I have shown and described.

It will be understood that the invention as illustrated may be variedfrom in detail, so as to be adapted to the other constructions whereinit is desired to feed wire, and while I have illustrated it as beingapplied to the particular means for weaving spiral-coil netting, asillustrated in this and other applica tions, I do not desire to beunderstood as limiting my invention thereto, but to include all mg oiland waste 48, into which the lower roll such changes, variations, andadaptations as maybe made by the skilled mechanic within the scope ofthe following claims.

What I claim is 1. Apparatus for feeding closely-adjacent strands ofwire consisting of closely-assembled roller-disks, means for rotatingthe disks, a bearing-surface against which the disks bear, and means forapplying pressure to hold the disks against the bearing-surface.

2. In apparatus for feeding closely-adjacent strands of wire, thecombination of a solid roll and a driving-shaft provided withclosely-assembled roller-disks in driving engagement with the shaft,with means for exerting pressure on the disks, to hold them in grippingcontact with the solid roll.

3. In apparatus for feeding closely-adjacent strands of wire, thecombination of a solid roll and a driving-shaft provided withclosely-assembled roller-disks in driving engagement with the shaft,with means for exerting pressure on each disk independent of the othersto hold it in gripping contact with the solid roll.

4:. In apparatus for feeding wire, the combination of a solid roll, anda series of independent disks, side by side, and approximating acontinuous sectional roll, loosely mounted upon a driving-shaft and indriving engagement therewith, pressure-plates adapted to bear separatelyon each disk, and means for supplying pressure to each plate.

5. In apparatus for feeding wire, the comwith, pressure-plates for thedisks, and counterweighted levers adapted to exert downward pressureupon the plates.

6. In apparatus for feeding wire, the combination of a main frame orhousings, a solid roll, a series of disks mounted upon a commondriving-shaft and in driving engagement therewith, means for rotatingthe roll and disks, pressure-plates mounted in the frame and adapted tobear upon the disks, and alternate oppositely-extended counterweightedlevers mounted in the housing and adapted to exert pressure upon theplates.

7. In a machine for weaving wire, the combination with a plurality ofgrooved spindles with intervening coiling-guides, of a solid and asectional feed-roll in gripping contact, with means for driving thefeed-rolls.

8. In a machine for weaving wire, the combination with a' plurality ofgrooved spindles, with intervening coiling-guides, of a solid and asectional feed-roll in gripping contact, an intermittently actuatedshear knife, and means for driving the feed-rolls and operating theshear.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. IVRIGHT.

Witnesses:

J AS. J. MoAFEE, O. M. CLARKE.

